CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Birds Rout the Sox in Series Opener

Published on July 2, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Facing one of the most dominant starters in the Carolina League as of late, the Pelicans made quick work of Salem's Casey Kelly and showed their pitching staff is something to be noticed, too.

In the series opener of four, Myrtle Beach broke out for seven runs between the second and third innings in an 8-1 victory over the Salem Red Sox in front of 5,552 fans at BB&T Coastal Field.

After going down in order in the bottom of the first inning, the Pelicans put two runs on the board in the second. Donell Linares doubled to lead off the frame and came home when Cody Johnson immediately followed him with the same. Johnson was retired trying to advance to third on a Jesus Sucre flyout to right field, but with two gone, Benji Johnson banged his fifth homer of the season off the batters' eye in center field to stake the Pelicans to a 2-0 lead.

Myrtle Beach piled on with a breakout third. Michael Fisher walked leading off and advanced to second on a Cole Miles groundout. Following a Freddie Freeman walk, Miles scored on an RBI single by Jason Heyward. Another walk to Linares loaded the bases and set the stage for Cody Johnson. The Pelicans' left fielder blasted Kelly's 0-1 fastball to right field, depositing it in the Myrtle Beach bullpen for the first grand slam by any Pelican this year and handing the Birds a 7-0 lead. Following the slugger's Carolina League-leading 21st home run, Myrtle Beach didn't look back. Heyward drove home another run with an RBI single in the seventh to provide the final margin.

Kelly (1-3) allowed seven earned runs on six hits over five innings after not allowing a single run over 13 frames his last two times out. The seven earned runs Kelly surrendered were one fewer than the right-hander had allowed in the entirety of the 2009 season entering the series opener. His ERA ballooned from 2.02 to 3.32 after the start.

On the other side, Pelicans' lefty Jose Ortegano, activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, pitched two innings in the start and allowed just one hit. Jacob Thompson (2-1) completed the game and earned the win with seven innings of relief, allowing Salem's lone run on a Jason Place solo homer in the seventh and just three total hits. The two Pelicans hurlers combined to face just two Red Sox over the minimum on the night.

Game two of the four-game set is slated for 7:05 tomorrow night. Pelicans patriotic baseballs will be given out to the first 1,500 fans in attendance at BB&T Coastal Field. Special Fourth of July fireworks displays are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday nights. Tickets are available at the BB&T Coastal Field box office, by calling the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or by visiting the Tickets page at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

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Carolina League Stories from July 2, 2009


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